In a fit of big man bigotry, an El Paso pastor decided to push through an initiative to rescind domestic partner benefits from El Paso city employees. Of course, he only meant to hurt the gays:

Last year, the El Paso, Texas City Council voted 7-1 to extend city employee health benefits to their domestic partners, including LGBT couples. But while many celebrated the progressive move, the right-wing El Paso Word of Life Church’s Pastor — and self-advertised exorcist — Tom Brown slammed the council for “condoning immorality” and giving “a huge black eye to democracy.” Incensed over the idea of equal treatment, Brown spearheaded a ballot initiative to rescind these benefits, which passed this November by a 55 percent majority.

But, in his eagerness to rob gay and unmarried partners of their health benefits, Brown’s group quickly drew up the bill “wording on its own” because he “could not find a lawyer” to advise. By doing so, Brown’s blow to equal rights also doles a “black eye” to 200 El Paso retirees and public servants who will now lose their health benefits on Jan. 1 too.

[…]

Not only same-sex and unmarried partners, but employees of the 911 call center, retired firefighters, retired policemen, and even foster children will lose health benefits because of Brown’s bigotry. While admitting that he only intended to strip the 19 same-sex couples of their benefits, Brown said he has “no regrets” for doing “what was right,” and that city officials “have to respect the will of the public.”

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6 Comments

Gary (NJ)December 9, 2010 at 9:57 am -

“a huge black eye to democracy.” — A 7-1 vote sounds like democracy to me! These a******s don’t seem to get that ‘the will of the people’ doesn’t cover anything and everything, especially when it’s unconstitutional. If the ‘will of the hicks’ had it’s way down there, they’d have Jim Crow laws back again.

MichaelDecember 10, 2010 at 4:27 am -

If the “will of the people” is to take health benefits away from other Americans, that is immoral and the people need to be admonished and reminded of what Christ really stood for.

DaveTheWaveDecember 10, 2010 at 7:14 am -

Well said Gary (NJ). I don’t think this obvious point is stressed anywhee near enough. Majorities may not oppress minorities, rights may not be put to the vote, etc. Americans need to be educated as to this basic concept.

MarleneDecember 11, 2010 at 11:17 am -

Sounds like what happened here in Bowling Green, Ohio this year.

Our city council passed 7-0 and 6-1 two ordinances to add gender/gender identity/gender expression and sexual orientation as protected classes among others.

Luckily, our side won after a lengthy and bitter battle, thanks to the hate and fearmongering waged by a cabal of religious zealots. They were deluded into thinking that their religious beliefs trumped the Fourteenth Amendment when it came to running abusiss open to the public.

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